Freedom of
information Act
Under this act, Parish Councils are required to make a significant amount of information available routinely, without waiting for someone to specifically request it. Martham Parish Council adopted the Freedom of information Act 2000, Model Publication Scheme, Core classes only, in January 2003.
The following information is either available for download (free of charge) on this website OR can be requested or viewed via the Parish Clerk (see address below):
General Documents:-
- Minutes of the Council meetings, Annual Parish meeting and Committee meetings – Website or Clerk.
- Standing Orders – Website or Clerk.
- Code of Conduct – Website or Clerk.
- Member’s Register of Interests – Clerk.
- Declaration of Acceptance of Office – Clerk.
- Periodic Electoral Review – by arrangement with the Clerk.
- Terms of Conditions of Employment and Job Descriptions (personal records are exempt) – Clerk.
- Responses to Planning Applications – available from the Clerk.
Audit and Accounts:-
- Annual return from the last financial year – Website or Clerk.
- Annual Statutory Report by Auditors for the last financial year – Website or Clerk.
- Receipts and payment books, bank statements, VAT records – To view by arrangement with the Clerk.
- Assets Register, Risk Assessments – To view by arrangement with the Clerk.
Rights of Access
Under the Act any member of the public (including individuals, organizations or businesses) has the right to ask, in writing (which includes email) to see or receive any of the above information held by the Parish Council. Applicants do not have to state the purpose of their request. The Parish Council must respond to any request made in writing within 20 working days. If the information is not available, reasons will be given for any non-disclosure or exemption and the methods of appeal will be explained.
Any requests for information should be submitted, in writing to:-
The Clerk, Martham Parish Council
8 School Road
Martham
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk
NR29 4PN
OR Email
We are allowed to charge a fee for responding to your requests. The amount that we charge will be 20p per A4 sheet plus any postage and packing, (under certain circumstances this fee will be waived). We will inform the applicant in writing of the total charge. The 20 days for responding to requests is put on hold until the fee is paid. If the fee is not paid within 3 months it is assumed the applicant no longer wants the information.
If copies from records are not feasible, arrangements can be made with the Clerk to view the original document(s).